Dr. Heymach on the Future of Immunotherapy in NSCLC

John V. Heymach, MD, PhD, chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the future of immunotherapy in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PD-L1 inhibitors have been thoroughly tested both as monotherapies and in combination regimens, according to Heymach. The use of these agents in patients with this disease has been well established, with monotherapy agents being utilized in those who have a high PD-L1 expression. Combination regimens such as PD-L1 and CTLA-4, particularly nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy), have also been explored. For a broader patient population, a combination of PD-1 inhibitors and chemotherapy can be used, Manochakian says.

With this established, future directions for immunotherapy will focus on tailoring treatment decisions based on patient subgroups, as well as identifying combinations that could potentially combat resistance to immunotherapy, Manochakian concludes.